She gestures at the guards waiting at the entrance just behind me. I shut my eyes, giving my Foreseer power a test and realizing I can’t channel any energy. It can bring people to my realm and even lock them in it-even someone like you.” “You know, I’m finding your Witch friend very useful… Her magic is the most amazing thing.

She smiles smugly and it makes my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. “Now, we both know I can leave whenever I want,” I say, treading on thin water. I won’t have to waste any more time trying to hunt you down.” “The only thing you’ve accomplished by coming here is that you’ve made it easier for me. “You have some nerve coming to my Kingdom and asking me to let someone go.” She stomps her foot. She’s startled and then enraged, her eyes blazing as she pounds her fist on the armrests of her throne. I take a deep breath, praying to God the pendant does exactly what Nalina says. “So tell me, Gemma, why are you stupid enough to show up here? And to come alone, without any of your little friends?” Her grin dominates her face. “I’m wherever I want to be, now.” She grins, and it makes her look old. I cross my legs and rest my hands on my lap. “Seriously?” I hesitate, but she shoots me a death-glare and I quickly plant my butt down on the ground, the pointy edges poke through my clothes. “Sit.” She points at the grass that surrounds her throne. She climbs up the short stairway with me trailing at her heels, and then sits on the thrown, gathering her flowing black dress to the side of her. Green, leafy vines budding with pink flowers entwine around the throne and up the trees that grow in the room. She hikes down a path dotted with petals, heading towards a podium holding a throne.

“Stupid, little creatures,” she mutters under her breath and for a second I kind of like her. “Silence!” They hastily drop their heads and a hush falls over them. They’re whispering with their beady little eyes on me and I even hear one of them giggle, “Gemma.” Maybe I need to start figuring stuff out about relationships, about life, about what I’m going to do for the decades and decades I have lying before me.Īs soon as we step into Luna’s chambers, I’m enclosed by a herd of Sprites. “I don’t have a favor,” I mutter under my breath, but as I say it, I realize I have no idea. I was just telling you from my own personal experience that it’s not going to work out in your favor.”

The evanescence by jessica sorensen